I-5 Elite is Back in Business

* Daniel Brady covers the Oregon Basketball territory for Indihoops.  He had a great career for ICP Elite and was in the first ever Rose City Showcase.  Here is his article on I-5 Elite a well ran organization.

After a four year hiatus, I-5 Elite coached by Kumbeno Memory had an extremely successful season in their first year back on the AAU circuit.  They played in three tournament championship games and got to the Elite 8 of the Big Foot Las Vegas Classic. I-5 Elite never finished lower than top 16 of a tournament (Double Pump Best of Summer Tournament) and defeated every Oregon team they played. They also competed in the top bracket (Platinum/Open) of each tournament they played in.

In those tournaments I-5 Elite compiled a winning record against current Nike EYBL teams (4 wins, 3 losses) and an overall record of 24-9. Here is a break down of their win loss record by tournament:

4-1 – NW Premier Showcase

4-1 – Las Vegas Grand Opening (won Pool; reached Platinum bracket championship game)

2-1 – Rose City Showcase (reached Super 17s bracket championship Game)

7-2 – NW Premier Summer Showcase (reached Platinum bracket championship game)

2-3 – Double Pump Best of Summer (reached Platinum bracket round of 16)

5-1 – Las Vegas Classic (won Pool; reached Elite 8 of Platinum bracket)

 I-5 Elite Defeats Cross-town Rival ICP in Vegas

After going a perfect 3-0 and winning its pool, I-5 Elite opened bracket play in the Platinum Division with a come from behind victory against cross-town rivals ICP. After trailing by as much as 17 in the second half, I-5 Elite quickly wiped away the lead and took control of the game. Behind 25 points, including 7 three-pointers from Jake Spurgeon (6-5 2015 wing pictured to the left)- all in the second half- I-5 Elite claimed the 63-56 win. Since the conclusions of the Las Vegas Classic Spurgeon has received interest from Montana State, University of Portland, and Houston Baptist. ICP had beat I-5 Elite in the finals of the Rose City Showcase in June.

Strong Finish To A Great Season

In the second round of pool play, I-5 Elite continued their winning ways, never trailing in a 73-57 victory over Next Level Cats Austin. Behind the drive-and-kick game of 2013 unsigned senior guards Bryce Canda and Jairo Lopez, I-5 combined to shoot 27 free throws and get many open three-pointers as they continually attacked the heart of Next Level’s defense.

In the Elite 8 against Team Texas Elite, I-5 Elite seemed to simply run out of steam. After trading the lead for much of the first and trailing by just 1 at the half, I-5 lost its grasp on the game, losing by 17 points.